RSPB Sparrows is packed with eye-catching, informative color photos of these beloved birds and features succinct, detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist.
Sparrows are often considered familiar to the point of invisibility, but the recent steep decline in numbers of both native British species is a reminder that these unassuming chatterboxes deserve a little more attention.
Of all the true sparrow species found worldwide, only two occur in the British the House Sparrow and the Tree Sparrow. Globally, the story of the House Sparrow is one of dramatic expansion from humble origins in the Middle East; while the smaller, more active Tree Sparrow has also spread extensively. Both species have been heavily persecuted to surprisingly little effect until recent years.
In Spotlight Sparrows , Amy-Jane Beer examines the causes behind the recent decline of these familiar species, and explores their biology and life cycle, social behavior, and the significant role that sparrows play in human culture, from classical civilization to Shakespeare, Edith Piaf, and Captain Jack Sparrow.
Amy-Jane Beer is a biologist and writer. She has written more than 30 books about science and natural history including Cool Nature and The A-Z of Wildlife Watching. She has also edited a number of wildlife publications including Animals, Animals, Animals and Wildlife World magazine. The natural sciences have been a lifelong fascination for her, and her childhood enthusiasm was formalised at Royal Holloway University of London, where she graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Biology, then spent years squinting down a microscope and fretting over the welfare of a tank full of sea urchin larvae to earn a PhD.
This is one of the best books about birds I have ever read. It is so well researched, interesting and readable. I love sparrows and would encourage everyone to buy some wild bird seed and put it out in their garden every day along with water for them to drink and bathe in. If this is the standard, I cannot wait to read all the other RSPB guides about countless other species. Twitching heaven!
An accessible and fun introduction to the commonly overlooked sparrow. With negitive stigma against these birds, we miss their beauty and personality. Read if you want to appreciate everyday beauty.